Paddock gossip from Korea - Part I

For the duration of the Korean GP, most of the teams have taken up temporary residence in the town of Mokpo in a type of accommodation known by the locals as 'love hotels'. "You can tell that they serve a rather different purpose for the rest of the year," says Sebastian Vettel with a smile. There are plenty of body lotions and red light bulbs, but no wardrobe.

Michael Schumacher is still the big hero of Formula One, at least as far as the Koreans are concerned. The names of the other drivers - including the main title contenders - mean little to them. Korean reporters were asking Schu whether he might win the race, a question that elicited a wry grin from the former champion.